It’s been quite awhile since I’ve posted anything. I guess that’s indicative of a busy, full life – I’ll go with that. Now that we’re back in the states, we’re settling back into our old routines – which is good and bad.

But, one of those “routines” is enjoying autumn in the Baraboo Hills. I suppose that if you lived in Virginia and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Maine or Nova Scotia, you might have similar feelings about fall being one of the most spectacular seasons of the year. The trees are vivid, the air is crisp. Change is in the air, even if it’s sort of a negative change. But, it’s a change that portends improvement, spring, rebirth…

I don’t think that “fall” in Wisconsin would seem like fall to me if I didn’t visit the Baraboo Hills. And, more specifically, a visit to Parfrey’s Glen. Actually, it’s full name is more likely “Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area.” Everyone is aware of the plethora of beautiful, wonderful state parks in Wisconsin. However, one of Wisconsin’s other gems are its state natural areas. These are special areas of unique biological/geological/ecological concern. They don’t rate the same attention as our state parks and there’s a good reason for that – they’re quite unique, fragile and small and they don’t need the attention because we don’t visit them for physical recreation. Usually, they’re more like pocket parks – small little parks that you’re more likely to have all to yourself, and you’re more likely to simply indulge in these unique scientific features.

That is, except for Parfrey’s Glen. 🙂 It was Wisconsin’s first state natural area. It also was the first state natural area that I visited more than twenty years ago. It’s proximity to Devil’s Lake State Park helps to make it very popular. I don’t know this for a fact, but it seems to me that the Baraboo Hills and Sauk County likely have more state natural areas than any other county in Wisconsin.

We made a visit to enjoy the West Bluff of Devil’s Lake and the trees, lunch in Baraboo, and then a trip to Parfrey’s Glen. Parfrey’s Glen is a very nice place to visit if you want solitude – except in the spring and fall. In the spring, the new flowers are trumpeting and it’s wonderful to enjoy a quiet, protected walk – with many friends whom you don’t yet know. In the fall, the situation is similar – maple trees shouting YELLOW!, the thinning canopy exposing the creek, and the almost spooky feeling of walking to the end of the glen (Halloween is just around the corner).

Just in case you weren’t able to make it to Parfrey’s Glen or Devil’s Lake recently, then I hope that you’ll enjoy the following gallery. And, if you were able to make it to Parfrey’s Glen or Devil’s Lake, then in your viewing the gallery, I hope that you’re transported back to your recent visit…